Rev Henry Gibbs's biography, Eaton Township, Eaton County, Michigan ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ SUBJECT: Rev. Henry A. GIBBS SUBMITTER: Jan Lubitz Sedore EMAIL: am0773@a1access.net DATE: Jul 29, 1999 SURNAMES: GIBBS, CLAPP, MC CLINTOCK, PIERCE, VAN DUSEN PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM Page 288-289 REV. HENRY A. GIBBS Rev. Henry A. Gibbs is one of the leading ministers and a representative citizen of Eaton Township and county, where he resides on section 26. He is a native of Wyoming County, New York, was born October 6, 1842, and is the son of Asa and Lucy (Clapp) Gibbs. His parents were natives of the Empire State. The mother is still residing in Eaton County, the father having died some years previous. In the fall of 1853 Asa Gibbs, the father of our subject brought his family to Michigan and settled in Washtenaw County, and subsequently removed to Eaton County, where he resided until his death. He was one of the oldest settlers in Eaton Township and with the rest of the pioneers suffered all the hardships and the privations they were called upon to bear in developing the wild land. He settled on section 26, which farm is now owned by his son, Chester Gibbs. In politics he voted with the Democratic Party. In his death the county lost one of her old and prominent pioneers. His widow still survives him at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Our subject is one in a family of seven children, three now living: Wallace, residing at Eaton Rapids; Chester who is a farmer in Eaton Township; and the subject of this sketch. The Rev. Henry A. Gibbs was reared to manhood in Eaton County amid the pioneer scenes of a wilderness country abounding in deer and wild game of every kind, where might often he heard the doleful howling of wolves. He assisted his father in chopping and clearing up his land, doing all the pioneer work of his day. He received a greater part of his early education in the public schools of the county. His mind naturally studious inclined him to the study of the ministry. When twenty-three years old, he entered Oberlin College in Ohio, and began his course of study. But after a short time, owing to failing health, he was obliged to leave the school before completing his course. He returned to Eaton County and during a period of five years, preached in a local capacity in the United Brethren Church, and subsequently for several years engaged in itinerant preaching. He has always been a strong advocate of Sunday school and church work in his district. He was married July 9, 1854, to Melissa A. McClintock, a native of Ohio. Mrs Gibbs is the daughter of Thomas McClintock. She came with her parents from Wood County, Ohio to Eaton County, Michigan, when about nineteen years of age. She and her husband have resided in this county most of the time since their marriage, with the exception of the times when her husband was filling the position of an itinerant minister. To this couple four children were born, three of whom are still living: Ella, the wife of William Pierce, of Eaton Township; Ida, who married James Van Dusen, Jr., residing in Eaton Township and Martin in Eaton County. The name of the one deceased is Mina. Our subject settled on his present farm when but twenty years old and he has cleared and developed it and made it one of the finest in this section. He owns one hundred and twenty-five acres, a greater part of which is under cultivation. He is a public-spirited man and in favor of everything that will improve and elevate society. He lends his influence in political matters to the work of the Republican Party. He and his wife take an active interest in the United Brethren Church and also in the social circles of the community. He is a man of deep and sincere piety and the many years he has so sincerely and faithfully labored in the upbuilding of Christ's kingdom on earth, have been crowned with success and victory. Politically he is a Republican.